Not Exactly Dead — Kathryn Judson

A murderous maniac who calls himself Mighty Planetary Master has been killing spies all over the planet. When America gets a clue he might be after Richard Hugh of the UK's little-known agency that is widely nicknamed MI5 1/2 (too small and unknown for its own full number, the joke goes), the Yanks send the intrepid - but short, modest, and gadget-adverse - Emma Chapman over to try to intercept. Soon, even the French are involved, most notably in the person of Hugh's longtime friend - and occasional thorn in the side - Leandre Durand. Hugh already had an enemy glut, and must contend with the old threats as well as the new. It doesn't make it any easier when, for better and worse, almost no one's private life is going as planned. Serious-comedic fiction. First book in a series. Prequel to Not Exactly Innocent.